One major outlet was brutally honest about where the Detroit Red Wings stand this offeason. While Jacob Punturi of SI acknowledged "The Red Wings have made some moves this summer," he also stressed that "significant work remains. More work than any other team in the NHL is necessary for Detroit to finally solve its postseason issue."
I don't disagree, and apologies in advance for the negatives. But Punturi's correct on this one, since other than the John Gibson trade, Steve Yzerman flooded the rest of his team's needs with stopgaps like James van Riemsdyk, Jacob Bernard-Docker, and Mason Appleton.
Of that trio, the only one who might contribute for more than a couple of seasons tops is Bernard-Docker, who showed everyone that the Ottawa Senators may've given up on him too quickly following what was a promising sample of games with the Buffalo Sabres.
I'm also not sold, and I've talked about this before a lot last month, on the team's top six, with that gigantic hole either in the first or second line. Dylan Larkin and Marco Kasper are two players who I like, and Alex DeBrincat can and should be a Red Wing for life. And don't even get me started on Lucas Raymond.
Multiple question marks will haunt the Red Wings if Steve Yzerman stays idle
Some will sit here and claim that the offseason's over, with training camp only a little more than a couple of fortnights away. And I honestly don't know why I worded it that way, but what I'm getting at is, when NFL teams start playing for real, NHL teams will be reporting, and if this is the version of the Wings we're getting, I don't like their chances.
But the reality is, the offseason's not over until teams start reporting, and even then, it doesn't mean trades can't still be made as we approach the regular season. There's still the question mark at wing in the top six, with no real proven talent looking to be that sixth man there.
Well, except James van Riemsdyk, but we can all agree he's most likely past his prime. On the other end, there's Patrick Kane, who's looked more than capable of playing in the top six even at an advanced age. But you can't help but ask yourself, "How much longer can he be a productive player in that role?"
And right now, the Red Wings and their fans are hoping, or at least they need to hope, that Kane has another good season left, and one capable of putting up about 55 points.
The Yzerplan is still brewing, but outlets like SI aren't wrong
Punturi talked about how the Wings should bring in a second-line center, so we're taking different approaches in what we think Yzerman should do here. I'm sold that Marco Kasper will evolve into at least a 55-point player this season, and that he'll more than make his mark in the top six, with Andrew Copp and J.T. Compher lining up on the third and fourth lines, respectively.
So, Mr. Yzerman, you still got time to bring in that winger, even if it costs you someone in the prospect pipeline and maybe a draft pick. But you have enough prospects brewing in Grand Rapids and all over the world for that matter, that you can give up one and still be in good shape.
Plus, it'll help the Wings win this season, as opposed to extending this playoff drought into double digits, which none of us want to see.
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